# Hoodies **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721 "2019-05-29T17:40:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I-VI-ii-V](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c89c15/32.png) [@I-VI-ii-V](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I-VI-ii-V)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/1 "2019-05-29T17:40:50Z")
Please explain the appeal of wearing a hoodie. They limit your field of view and practically remove all peripheral vision. Why would you want to walk around with a bag on your head at all times? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/2 "2019-05-29T17:45:09Z")
Because your ears get cold? ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/3 "2019-05-29T17:52:52Z")
When it’s cold, it’s much easier to pull up the hood than to deal with a knit hap and a scarf, 2 items which are easy to misplace and lose. And there’s no gap in the back the wind can sneak through like you get with a scarf/hat combo, so your neck stays warm and dry. In the summer…hell if I know. Fashion is dumb. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/4 "2019-05-29T17:54:08Z")
Do hats baffle you also:dubious: Sorry, that was snarky. Is it just “hoodies”, i.e. hood sweatshirt jackets that you’re wondering about or are you including hooded parkas such as Inuits might wear? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/5 "2019-05-29T18:03:33Z")
Yeah, I get the Op. In the cities all the 'yutes" wear black hoodies, with earbuds, and walk across streets any old place without a care or concern. At nite you cant see their faces thus you cant see them, and they can hear or see you. Then of course the rising toll in pedestrian deaths is blamed on motorists , and politicians want to reduce the speed limit. :rolleyes: Also, cotton/poly hoodie wearers- they aint raincoats. In fact in a heavy rain, a cotton hoody is worse than no covering. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/6 "2019-05-29T18:04:51Z")
> [@I-VI-ii-V](#): > > Please explain the appeal of wearing a hoodie. They limit your field of view and practically remove all peripheral vision. Why would you want to walk around with a bag on your head at all times? You are aware they you don’t have to have the hood up all the time, correct? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/7 "2019-05-29T19:03:13Z")
I am an old white female, and I love hoodies. I get terrible earaches from the cold, and even if it’s warm, any breeze blowing past my ears will cause problems. Hoodies are a lifesaver for me. I’m sure some of the people wearing hoodies are doing it for similar reasons, but many are just doing it for fashion, which needs no justification. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/8 "2019-05-29T19:07:57Z")
I’ve worn hoodies since at least the late 80s. What’s to understand? It’s a zip-up sweatshirt, and if it’s cold or raining, you got a hood to go with it attached. Non hoodie zip-up sweatshirts/fleeces just seem odd to me. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/9 "2019-05-29T19:18:24Z")
It’s comfortable and versatile and I rarely use the hood. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/10 "2019-05-29T19:26:52Z")
Old white man, and a hoodie is my primary coat. When it begins getting cold I break out my hoodie and wear it outside until it warms up again. I have one parka that I wear over my hoodie in sub-zero weather. I rarely use the hood, unless it’s raining and I don’t want my hair to get wet. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/11 "2019-05-29T19:34:21Z")
Fashion, which doesn’t have anything to do with practicality. I always wear a hat, so the hood is redundant (and causes more trouble than it’s worth). Hats are far more versatile and look at lot better. And a jacket is better than a sweatshirt since you can take it off more conveniently when you get indoors. It seems silly to have one on a sweatshirt if you’re not going to use it. Oh, right . . . fashion. ---
**Author:** ![PlumBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@PlumBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlumBob)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/12 "2019-05-29T19:41:24Z")
I’ve been wearing hooded sweatshirts since the 70’s. They were athletic wear at first, then versatile outdoor first layers. The hood down position still keeps the back of your neck warm. I put the hood up when I’m ready for some chicanery. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/13 "2019-05-29T19:46:00Z")
The wording of the OP makes me think it never occurred to them that putting the hood up was optional. I bought a hoodie last fall because I traveled someplace that was unexpectedly colder than usual (even for locals), and there aren’t really many other options in the lightweight range that zip up for easy removal. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/14 "2019-05-29T19:57:16Z")
[Moderating] Are hoodies an art form now? I’m pretty sure they’re not. Moving to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/15 "2019-05-29T20:29:33Z")
I always wonder why other women like to wear their hair long, and then many like to have it draped around their faces instead of pulled back (or, instead of chopped short like mine). It finally occurred to me that for many, it’s a comfort/hiding thing. I have a male friend who has long hair and is never without a ball cap. For him it’s definitely a comfort/hiding thing. While there’s many uses for a hoodie already mentioned here, I’ll add “comfort and hiding” to the list as well. Personally I like the way it’s cozy on my neck when the hood is down. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/16 "2019-05-29T20:40:14Z")
Wearing a hoodie with the hood down looks good. Besides the whole medieval traveler’s cloak/knight’s coif vibe, it frames your neck nicely without the formality of an actual high collar. I like it, especially when worn with a jacket. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/17 "2019-05-29T22:25:49Z")
I wear mine with hood in front filled with cheetos. Saves time. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/18 "2019-05-29T22:32:26Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > The wording of the OP makes me think it never occurred to them that putting the hood up was optional. > > I bought a hoodie last fall because I traveled someplace that was unexpectedly colder than usual (even for locals), and there aren’t really many other options in the lightweight range that zip up for easy removal. Exactly. It has nothing to do with fashion. Are hoodies fashionable? I’ve always thought of them as kind of slummy looking jackets. It’s something you wear when you’re dressing down, just like how sweat shirts and sweat pants aren’t exactly going out wear. But I love them because they are practical and comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/19 "2019-05-29T22:53:49Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > It’s comfortable and versatile and I rarely use the hood. Seconded. But when you want the hood, why, there it is! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721/20 "2019-05-29T23:37:37Z")
Another old white guy, and I’ve been wearing hoodies since the 60s, usually with the hood down. But if it starts to rain or gets colder, the hood’s there if I need it. I had no idea hoodies were a Black thing, until the Trayvon Martin shooting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoodies/834721.md?page=2)